Post by Spencer on Jun 6, 2013 14:22:38 GMT -5
Here are 10 questions with the Colorado Rockies GM!
1. How do you feel the league is going currently? Things you'd add? Things you love about this league?
I think this league has been quite a success so far. It's been extremely active and a lot of fun overall. Sometimes, politics have gotten in the way and have been annoying, but other than that, I really don't have many complaints at all.
-I think the league is top notch. Only thing Erbes could fix is the small rule changes to make the sim engine better. To make competition a little better. Activity is amazing.
2. You're heading into the beginning of a rebuild. How long do you anticipate letting the rebuild last?
It really depends on a few things. First, I gotta see how the rest of the NL West looks and see whether I can find a way to win the division or at least contend for the wild card and then go from there. Ideally, I should be ready to compete somewhere between 2002-2004. I need a strong group of prospects that will be ready to compete for real by the time they all get called up for good.
-I think you could turn it around quick with 2 top 10 picks. I do think you need to try and load up on pitching then acquire older hitting vets being sold cheap.
3. David Wright. Do you regret overstating your love of him? Are you worried someone will draft him and hold him ransom? Have you considered just forgoing him and drafting 2 young studs instead?
Yeah I may have gone a little far with it, but I expected everyone to know that I'd want him simply because the Mets are my favorite real life team. I also really thought he'd possibly be one of the best rated hitters in BBSBL history. I really thought that could happen, but then I remembered Erbes is a Yankee fan and will probably fuck over Wright's real ratings to spite me.
I'm not worried about anyone holding Wright ransom. The 01 draft has Mauer, Prior, Dan Haren, Teixeira, Cano, Ryan Howard and quite a few other good players in it. You never know which direction any team will want to go in. So that is not something I've been concerned of. Mauer looks like the no-brainer #1 draft pick at this point.
As for giving up on Wright and just getting a lot of great 1st round spects, it really depends on how Erbes rates him. For example, if Wright doesn't start off with at least Good in hits and at least Average/Good in both homers and walks, then that would be bullshit and the bias on Erbes' part would be very obvious. Only in a situation like that would I not consider getting Wright as much as I want to.
The fact of the matter though is that I've loaded on picks just to get Wright. I wouldn't have gone so much out of my way to trade all my veteran sluggers and acquire as many 2001 1st round picks as possible for nothing. Wright was clearly the main reason why this all happened.
We'll see what happens in the offseason.
- I think you're better off trying to get Cano and Tex. Those 2 at 1B and 2B in Coors would be nuts. Your #2 and # 3 hittters for the next 15 years.
4. List 5 players you'd love to get during your rebuild window through the next 3 drafts. Why?
Besides Wright, the other 4 players I would love to draft would include Prince Fielder (beast of a slugger, perfect for Coors Field), Joey Votto (great all-around hitter, would put up big numbers in Coors), Adam Jones (he will simply be a 5-tool stud) and Matt Kemp (another great 5-tool stud).
-If you can get Cano and Tex this year then add Fielder and Kemp youd have an amazing young lineup. Makes me want to rebuild ASAP.
5. How do you feel about your division? Are you worried about competing long term or do you think you'll be back soon?
I like my division a lot. Sure, Spencer has owned it so far, but once his window is up, mine should be immediately beginning and will hopefully last for a long time.
I'm not worried about competing long term. The Giants can only last for so long and I don't trust the Dodgers or Padres at all. Greg is barely around and hasn't made too many efforts to make the Dodgers better. The Padres have actually made some efforts, but it's Habes "the artist" running the show there and with some of the questionable trades he has made, I don't see the Padres being relevant at all in the future unless Habes can get another big power bat or 2.
Like I said, sometime between 2002-2004, the Rockies will be back and better than ever.
-I need to decide if Im gonna do a full tilt rebuild or just try and piece stuff together. Greg is actually a pretty experienced OOTP guy and Habes has a,lot of young talent. This division should be tough eventually.
6. Coors Field. Do you regret picking the Rockies? Do you think you can ever truly compete in that field?
With the list of teams that were left when I first joined, I am glad I chose the Rockies over any of those other teams. Managing the Blake Street Bombers was fun and I got to see some big numbers there. Were the Rockies my 1st choice? No. But after the Mets, I really didn't have a strong 2nd choice.
The Rockies and Coors Field are a double-edged sword. The offensive numbers will be very nice, but the other GM's will likely call out your team for the thin air helping the ball carry more into the outfield bleachers.
On the other hand, pitching in Coors Field will be a bitch and you will need the best of the best to really get somewhere on the pitching end. Of course, your team will get called out by other GM's for possibly being somewhat successful, despite a mediocre pitching staff that really should be better, but isn't due to the stadium.
Eventually, I will find a way to win a ring or 2. It's a real challenge to compete at Coors Field, but I welcome it because once I get it done, it will probably feel like one of the prouder moments of my life. Don't over think that statement because what I mean is that it really is a legitimate challenge and I will feel very proud of myself if I can get a World Series championship for the Rockies.
- I had the Rockies once and it was fun to put up big numbers but I hated how hard it was to get decent pitching there. Need those B/B HR/BB guys and those are rare.
7. Do you think you need to acquire a different kind of player to compete in Coors? What and why?
Offensively, no. Coors Field is made for home run-hitting sluggers. 4-5 big sluggers and a speedy leadoff on-base guy or 2 is all you really need offensively.
On the pitching end, I feel I just need better pitchers with Good or better in home runs allowed and the runs ratings need to be nice as well. The pitchers I had when competing were good, but apparently not good enough to win at Coors Field.
- I think you need all BRILL HR pitchers. Just my opinion though.
8. How is Erbes as a commish? Do you trust him? Do you think he deals with situations well?
When it doesn't look like he is using personal bias to favor those he likes and be against those he doesn't like as much, then yeah I could probably find a way to trust him.
Overall, Erbes has done a very good job as the commish. Have I had my differences with him? Yes, but as long as he keeps things fair then I can be satisfied with what he does.
The personal bias stuff cannot exist for someone if he is the commish. It's no secret that Erbes wishes Break and D Rowe both were never in this league and he obviously would love to boot both of them now. However, as the commish, you still need to treat everyone the same, where it's your best friend or a complete stranger.
Erbes has done well overall in my opinion will this, but he has made some notable mistakes with that as well. He just needs to remember to stay calm, be fair and to never look like he's playing favorites.
And as for the trade merry go round with myself, Break and D Rowe, I will say it once more:
Come up with trade limits for each team when dealing with other GM's each season or don't complain. There really is no other option.
- I think Erbes tends to fuck with people but I trust him implicitly with simming.
9. Who is the best team from each League this year? Who will win the World Series?
It's close in the AL between the Red Sox and A's, but I think the Sox have more depth and the best pitching in the AL, so I will give them the nod.
In the NL, this is really starting to look like this will be the Cubs' year to get to the World Series. The Braves, Marlins and Giants, among others will be up there too, but without the Astros to worry about right now, the Cubs should be in cruise control for the rest of the regular season.
The way I see it, one long World Series curse will end this season. I've jinxed Break before by picking the Red Sox in the past, so I'm gonna go with the Cubbies and we will see how it all plays out.
-Cubs look tough. Not sure who can beat them.
10. If you could take any franchise top to bottom and call them your own who would it be? Who has the best overall team and future?
Even though they are starting to fade, I'd still like to be the Astros right now more than anyone. And this is only because of all the players they have that I loved while growing up. Not just Piazza, but also Bagwell, Biggio and Canseco. But yeah the fact that the Astros have Piazza more or less would win me over.
If I were to pick a team to have right now, just from a competitive perspective, my top 2 choices would be the A's and Cubs. And they are the 2 teams I feel have the best future in this league. I can't really put 1 over the other because both team's futures are bright and will include multiple championships most likely.
I'd put the Marlins as well, but I know the Marlins all too well. In reality, they have tried to compete, have been successful, and after doing so, have immediately traded away all their talented players in various fire sales. I'm not exactly sure if Ashes will follow the real life Marlins' trend, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he does and that's why I can't put the Marlins in the same exact class as the A's and Cubs.
Thanks for the questions Spencer! Enjoy your NL West dominance while you can.
- I gotta go with the Cubbies. I love their SP. Drew is a monster too.
1. How do you feel the league is going currently? Things you'd add? Things you love about this league?
I think this league has been quite a success so far. It's been extremely active and a lot of fun overall. Sometimes, politics have gotten in the way and have been annoying, but other than that, I really don't have many complaints at all.
-I think the league is top notch. Only thing Erbes could fix is the small rule changes to make the sim engine better. To make competition a little better. Activity is amazing.
2. You're heading into the beginning of a rebuild. How long do you anticipate letting the rebuild last?
It really depends on a few things. First, I gotta see how the rest of the NL West looks and see whether I can find a way to win the division or at least contend for the wild card and then go from there. Ideally, I should be ready to compete somewhere between 2002-2004. I need a strong group of prospects that will be ready to compete for real by the time they all get called up for good.
-I think you could turn it around quick with 2 top 10 picks. I do think you need to try and load up on pitching then acquire older hitting vets being sold cheap.
3. David Wright. Do you regret overstating your love of him? Are you worried someone will draft him and hold him ransom? Have you considered just forgoing him and drafting 2 young studs instead?
Yeah I may have gone a little far with it, but I expected everyone to know that I'd want him simply because the Mets are my favorite real life team. I also really thought he'd possibly be one of the best rated hitters in BBSBL history. I really thought that could happen, but then I remembered Erbes is a Yankee fan and will probably fuck over Wright's real ratings to spite me.
I'm not worried about anyone holding Wright ransom. The 01 draft has Mauer, Prior, Dan Haren, Teixeira, Cano, Ryan Howard and quite a few other good players in it. You never know which direction any team will want to go in. So that is not something I've been concerned of. Mauer looks like the no-brainer #1 draft pick at this point.
As for giving up on Wright and just getting a lot of great 1st round spects, it really depends on how Erbes rates him. For example, if Wright doesn't start off with at least Good in hits and at least Average/Good in both homers and walks, then that would be bullshit and the bias on Erbes' part would be very obvious. Only in a situation like that would I not consider getting Wright as much as I want to.
The fact of the matter though is that I've loaded on picks just to get Wright. I wouldn't have gone so much out of my way to trade all my veteran sluggers and acquire as many 2001 1st round picks as possible for nothing. Wright was clearly the main reason why this all happened.
We'll see what happens in the offseason.
- I think you're better off trying to get Cano and Tex. Those 2 at 1B and 2B in Coors would be nuts. Your #2 and # 3 hittters for the next 15 years.
4. List 5 players you'd love to get during your rebuild window through the next 3 drafts. Why?
Besides Wright, the other 4 players I would love to draft would include Prince Fielder (beast of a slugger, perfect for Coors Field), Joey Votto (great all-around hitter, would put up big numbers in Coors), Adam Jones (he will simply be a 5-tool stud) and Matt Kemp (another great 5-tool stud).
-If you can get Cano and Tex this year then add Fielder and Kemp youd have an amazing young lineup. Makes me want to rebuild ASAP.
5. How do you feel about your division? Are you worried about competing long term or do you think you'll be back soon?
I like my division a lot. Sure, Spencer has owned it so far, but once his window is up, mine should be immediately beginning and will hopefully last for a long time.
I'm not worried about competing long term. The Giants can only last for so long and I don't trust the Dodgers or Padres at all. Greg is barely around and hasn't made too many efforts to make the Dodgers better. The Padres have actually made some efforts, but it's Habes "the artist" running the show there and with some of the questionable trades he has made, I don't see the Padres being relevant at all in the future unless Habes can get another big power bat or 2.
Like I said, sometime between 2002-2004, the Rockies will be back and better than ever.
-I need to decide if Im gonna do a full tilt rebuild or just try and piece stuff together. Greg is actually a pretty experienced OOTP guy and Habes has a,lot of young talent. This division should be tough eventually.
6. Coors Field. Do you regret picking the Rockies? Do you think you can ever truly compete in that field?
With the list of teams that were left when I first joined, I am glad I chose the Rockies over any of those other teams. Managing the Blake Street Bombers was fun and I got to see some big numbers there. Were the Rockies my 1st choice? No. But after the Mets, I really didn't have a strong 2nd choice.
The Rockies and Coors Field are a double-edged sword. The offensive numbers will be very nice, but the other GM's will likely call out your team for the thin air helping the ball carry more into the outfield bleachers.
On the other hand, pitching in Coors Field will be a bitch and you will need the best of the best to really get somewhere on the pitching end. Of course, your team will get called out by other GM's for possibly being somewhat successful, despite a mediocre pitching staff that really should be better, but isn't due to the stadium.
Eventually, I will find a way to win a ring or 2. It's a real challenge to compete at Coors Field, but I welcome it because once I get it done, it will probably feel like one of the prouder moments of my life. Don't over think that statement because what I mean is that it really is a legitimate challenge and I will feel very proud of myself if I can get a World Series championship for the Rockies.
- I had the Rockies once and it was fun to put up big numbers but I hated how hard it was to get decent pitching there. Need those B/B HR/BB guys and those are rare.
7. Do you think you need to acquire a different kind of player to compete in Coors? What and why?
Offensively, no. Coors Field is made for home run-hitting sluggers. 4-5 big sluggers and a speedy leadoff on-base guy or 2 is all you really need offensively.
On the pitching end, I feel I just need better pitchers with Good or better in home runs allowed and the runs ratings need to be nice as well. The pitchers I had when competing were good, but apparently not good enough to win at Coors Field.
- I think you need all BRILL HR pitchers. Just my opinion though.
8. How is Erbes as a commish? Do you trust him? Do you think he deals with situations well?
When it doesn't look like he is using personal bias to favor those he likes and be against those he doesn't like as much, then yeah I could probably find a way to trust him.
Overall, Erbes has done a very good job as the commish. Have I had my differences with him? Yes, but as long as he keeps things fair then I can be satisfied with what he does.
The personal bias stuff cannot exist for someone if he is the commish. It's no secret that Erbes wishes Break and D Rowe both were never in this league and he obviously would love to boot both of them now. However, as the commish, you still need to treat everyone the same, where it's your best friend or a complete stranger.
Erbes has done well overall in my opinion will this, but he has made some notable mistakes with that as well. He just needs to remember to stay calm, be fair and to never look like he's playing favorites.
And as for the trade merry go round with myself, Break and D Rowe, I will say it once more:
Come up with trade limits for each team when dealing with other GM's each season or don't complain. There really is no other option.
- I think Erbes tends to fuck with people but I trust him implicitly with simming.
9. Who is the best team from each League this year? Who will win the World Series?
It's close in the AL between the Red Sox and A's, but I think the Sox have more depth and the best pitching in the AL, so I will give them the nod.
In the NL, this is really starting to look like this will be the Cubs' year to get to the World Series. The Braves, Marlins and Giants, among others will be up there too, but without the Astros to worry about right now, the Cubs should be in cruise control for the rest of the regular season.
The way I see it, one long World Series curse will end this season. I've jinxed Break before by picking the Red Sox in the past, so I'm gonna go with the Cubbies and we will see how it all plays out.
-Cubs look tough. Not sure who can beat them.
10. If you could take any franchise top to bottom and call them your own who would it be? Who has the best overall team and future?
Even though they are starting to fade, I'd still like to be the Astros right now more than anyone. And this is only because of all the players they have that I loved while growing up. Not just Piazza, but also Bagwell, Biggio and Canseco. But yeah the fact that the Astros have Piazza more or less would win me over.
If I were to pick a team to have right now, just from a competitive perspective, my top 2 choices would be the A's and Cubs. And they are the 2 teams I feel have the best future in this league. I can't really put 1 over the other because both team's futures are bright and will include multiple championships most likely.
I'd put the Marlins as well, but I know the Marlins all too well. In reality, they have tried to compete, have been successful, and after doing so, have immediately traded away all their talented players in various fire sales. I'm not exactly sure if Ashes will follow the real life Marlins' trend, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he does and that's why I can't put the Marlins in the same exact class as the A's and Cubs.
Thanks for the questions Spencer! Enjoy your NL West dominance while you can.
- I gotta go with the Cubbies. I love their SP. Drew is a monster too.